Control apparatus for automatic phonographs



Jan. 26, 1937. 7 R. R. ERBE 2,069,180

CONTROL APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC FHONOGRAPHS Filed March 28,' 1935 .2 Sheets-Sheet 1 taaz/vrr (bl/v (Warts Seen-r3 PRICE F amuse:

ATTORNEY 5.

Jan. 25,1931 I R. R. ER 2,069,180

CONTROL APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH S Filed March 28, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PIE E Ill is] Fun ('au/vre'e P/iO/VOGRHPM Z 71 212 n MIZQP ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 26, 1937 FHCE CONTROL PARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC lPHONOGRAPHS poratio n Application March 28, 1935, Serial No. 13,387

9 Claims. ((31. lei-le This invention relates to control apparatus for an automatic phonograph of the recordchanging type. The apparatus is particularly adapted to coin controlled phonographs of the se- 5 lective type, but certain features of the invention are applicable to non-selective phonographs and to phonographs with which coin control is not desired. By selective type is meant a phonograph in which a number of records are stored ,inoved therefrom and played at the will of the operator.

One object of the invention is to provide a coin control which may accept coins of several 15 denominations and will cause the phonograph to play a predetermined number of selections, depending upon the value of the coins received.

Another object of the invention is to provide selecting means by which the entire numberof selections corresponding to the coins inserted may be chosen at one time.

Another object of the invention is to provide means by which the number ofselections played for a coin of a given value may be changed at will by the owner of the machine.

The featuresby means of which these and other objects are accomplished will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

Fig. 1 is a wiring diagram of the electrical connections as used in carrying out the invention in a preferred form. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a switch used for selecting the record or records to be played and for initiating the operation of the phonograph. Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the same. Fig. 4 is a plan view of a portion of one of the counting devices used with the apparatus. Fig. 5 is an elevational view on the line 55 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an alternative form of wiring for a non-coin-operated phonograph. Fig. 7 is another alternative form for a coin-operated non-selective phonograph.

In the preferred form of the invention shown in the drawings, the principal elements indicated by name in Fig. 1 are the phonograph proper, the amplifier and speaker, the cabinet selector switch which may be mounted on the cabinet of the phonograph, the cabinet coin chutes which may 50 also be mounted on or within the cabinet, the selection counter, the play counter, the price changer and a remote control station. Each of these elements will be described in detail before describing their interconnection and joint oper- 5 ation.

in a magazine, any one of which may be re- Phmwgmph 10,441, filed March 11, 1935. This type of phono- 5 graph is provided with a plurality of solenoids l0, each of which, when momentarily actuated, sets a mechanism whichselects a record in the magazine to be played. As described in said copending application, 'said mechanism is such 10 that when several of said solenoids are simultaneously actuated, the corresponding records will be played at successive operations of the phonograph. The phonograph is also provided with an electric motor H which drives the usual playing turntable and which also drives the recordchanging mechanism. The record-changing mechanism may be that shown in the before mentioned copending application or. any other well known form which automatically removes a record from the turntable upon completion of playing, returns it to the magazine, moves another record from the magazine to the tumtable and starts the playing of the same. Such record-changing mechanisms invariably include a shaft known as the one-revolution shaft, which makes a complete revolution during the record-changing cycle and which comes to rest during the playing of the record. The said shaft is indicated diagrammatically in the drawings at Amplifier and speaker The amplifier and speaker may be of any well known form and are electrically .connected to the pickup mechanism of the phonograph by any well known means not shown in the diagram.

' Cabinet selector switch ,The cabinet selector switch isshown diagram- 0 matically in Fig. 1 and in section in Fig. 2 while. Fig.3 shows an elevational'view of,the same.

The switch includes a base [5 of insulation material which may be mounted by screws IS on the phonograph cabinet IT. A plurality of contact buttons l8 corresponding in number tothe number of records in .the phonograph magazine are set into the base l and are arranged in a circle,

. center of the base I5 and slidably supports a receive a coin of the indicated denominationr 4.5 The 5 chute is arranged so that a coin dropped stem 2i. carrying at its outer end a knob 22 and a dial 23. The dial 23 has secured to the inner surface thereof a resilient finger 24 adapted to successively engage the buttons l8 as the dial is rotated by the knob 22. The dial 23 carries a series of index numbers shown in Fig. 3 corresponding to a printed list of selections which may be mounted in any convenient place on the cabinet. The dial may be arranged so that when each figure is uppermost on the dial, the finger 28 engages the button It connected to the solenoid Iii corresponding to the selection in the phonograph magazine represented by that figure.

A compression spring 25 surrounds the stem 26- abutting against the end of the bushing 26 and against the finger 2 5 and normally urges the stem to the right in Fig. 2. Movement of the stem to the right is limited by a pin 26 engaging the end of the bushing 20. The stem 25 carries at its inner end a contact tip 27 adapted to engage a contact tip 28 carried by a metallic yoke 29 supported upon'the back of the base 85. Contact between the point 21 and the point 28 is made by pressing the knob 22 against the action of the spring 25. A wire 30 is connected to the yoke 29 and a wire 39 is connected by means of a Washer 32 to the bushing 20 and is thus electricallyconnected to the stem 29, point 21! and to the contact finger 2E.

Cabinet coin chutes therein momentarily closes a pair of electrical contact members'33. Similarly. a coin dropped in the l0 chute closes a pair of contact members 34. A; coin dropped in-the 25 chute first momentarily closesa pair of contact members 35 and thereafter a second pair of contact members 36. These chutes may be of any type well known in the art and for that reasonare not described herein in more detail.

' Selection counter The selection counter is diagrammatically shown in Fig. 1 and portions thereof are shown in detail in Figs. 4 and 5. The counter is provided with a gear wheel 31 freely mounted for rotation about a vertical axis 38. about the gear 31 there are a plurality of counting units indicated by the numbers 38A. 39B, 39C and 39D, each of which is constructed substantially asshown in Fig. 4. Each counting unit A pinj ldjcarried updn oneend of' 'the armature- 43' has connected thereto a tension spring 45 connected at itsjopi o's'ite' endto the postz' 42. f'I'he springlithus normally urges the"armature -j l3't0 thefiig'ht. .I H

solenoid.

Grouped Pivotallylconnected to the armature 43 by means of the pin 44 there is a ratchet member 3i andlthus preventing rotation of the armature 43. The ratchet member 46 is also provided with moved to the left. The ratchet member is normally urged toward the gear31 by a torsion spring #88.

In the normal position of the device with the solenoid 40 deenergized, the spring 65 holds the ratchet member 46 flush against the end of the sleeve 4|. In this position, the edge ti of said memberis withdrawn from the path of travel of the gear and thus cannot interfere with the and to prevent backward movement of the gear in the backward movement of the ratchet member. The pressure of member 50, however, jis

not sufiicientto prevent the forward movement.

of the gear when positively actuated by the In Fig. 1, the four solenoids for the four counting units are indicated respectively by'the reference numerals 80A, 40B; 40C and MD and the corresponding stop members are indicated by the reference numbers 49A, 49B, 49C and dQD. The' counting units 39A, 39B and 39C move the gear in a counterclockwise direction while the counting unit 39D moves the gear in the clockwise When the solenoid is again deener- "46; formed with upper andlower portions engaging the upper and lower surfaces of the gear a vertical operating edge 41 adapted to engage 'the teethof the gear'3l when the armature is direction. The stop 29A is placed to permit the gear to be moved by its corresponding counter through the space of one tooth only. The stop 69B is placed to permit its counting unit to move the gear through the space of two teeth. The stop 49C is-located to permit its counter to move the gear'through the space of five teeth and the i stop dQD is located to permit a movement of one tooth in the opposite direction.

The gear 31 carries an arm 5! adapted'to break the contact between a pair of contact members 52 when the gear has been moved to a prede-v trically engaged. If now the solenoid MD is momentarily energized afnumber of 'timesequal,

to the number-of teeth through which the gear has been moved,' the arm 5lis brought-back to 'engageand open the .contactors '52.;

; Thearmature-JB 'oiithegcountinggunittiificarri'es anzinsulat'ed pix 1:53; engagingoneof a pair." '1' of contact: members 54 whenthc solenoid 60 is deenergized and naintainingvv said, con'tactf members wout ofen'gagement with [each other. when iii) aoeaieo ture moved to the left, the contact members 54 are closed for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

Play counter The play counter is a control box of a well known form in common use with automatic phonographs. It includes a ratchet wheel 55 normally urged in a counterclockwise direction by a torsion spring 56; A solenoid having an armature 58 connected to a link 59,-when energized, draws said link to the right to cause a tooth at thereon to engage the ratchet wheel 55 and move the same clockwise through a distance of one tooth. An escapement lever 6| normally prevents return rotation of the ratchet wheel but permits it to return through a distance of one tooth when a pair of magnets 62 are momentarily energized to attract and then release the lever ti. Thus, the ratchet wheel is moved one tooth in one direction when solenoid at is energized and one tooth in the opposite direction when the magnet '52 is energized.

lhe ratchet wheel 55 carries a pin 63 adapted to engage the end of a pivoted lever 64 which carries a contact member 65 at one end. The contact member 65 normally engages a contact finger 66. It will be apparent that when the magnets 62 have been energized a sufficient numher-of times, the pin 63 will engage the lever 64 and will move the same to break contact between the members 65, and t5. Thereafter, if the solenoid til is energized, the pin 63 will release the lever (it and permit contact to again be made between the contact members 65 and tt. In order to again breakthe contact, the magnets 32 must be energized once for each time that the solenoid bl has been energized.

Price changer Wiring and operation The power for operation is preferably supplied from the usualhousehold receptacle by means or a plug it attached to a cable 75 leading to a fuse clock it having the usual pair of fuses 73 mounted thereon. A power main it leads from one of; the fuses it? to one terminal of the motor ii. to the amplifier and speaker, to one terminal or the primary winding of a transformer 80 and to one of the contact members it in the phonograph. A second power main. 8| has branches leading to the second of the primary winding terminals of the transformer, to thecontact member as and to one terminal of the solenoid The finger is connected by a power line 82 to the second terminal of the motor ii and to the amplifier speaker. When the contact members 55 and G6 are in engagement, the following circuit is completed for energizing the motor ii and the amplifier. and speaker: E8, l9, motor, amplifier and speaker, 82, 6t, 65, 8!, it. This circuit is completed and broken by the movement of the lever trim the play counter.

The second terminal of the solenoid 5'! is connected by a conductor 83 o the second of the contact members it. At each record-changing operation, the contactors it are momentarily closed to energize the solenoid ill by the following circuit: i8, is, H.583, 5?, 8i, it.

The secondary winding of the transformer 80 has connected thereto a pair of distributories 84 and 85, branches of which lead to various electric elements as indicated by the diagram. lhese distributories furnish low voltage current from .the transformer secondary for the operation of the several control circuits. Other conductors shown in the diagram will be referred to only by number in tracing out the circuits of which they form a part.

In describing the operation of the illustrated apparatus it will first be assumed that the machine is to operate to give one selection for 5c, two for and five for 25. The plug '53 will then be inserted in one of the jacks Bl. The plug 72 will be inserted in one of the jacks 68. The plug it will be inserted in the jack 69 and the plug ll will notbe used. dropped in the appropriate slot, the contacts 33 will be momentarily closed, completing the fol-' lowing control circuit: 86, 85, 33, 86, i3, 61, 81, 40A,. 86, 80. This circuit energizes the solenoid 450A and moves the gear 3? counterclockwise one tooth corresponding to the one selection to be played for 5c. If a 10 piece is deposited in the proper chute the contacts 36 are momentarily closed and the following-circuit is completed: 88, 85, 3t, '38, i2, 68, 89, 33B, 84, 80. This circuit energizes the solenoid MB to. move the gear 3! counterclockwise two teeth corresponding to the two selections to be played for. 10. If a 25 piece is deposited in its proper slot, the contacts 35 will first be momentarily closed, but since these are connected by a conductor 99 to the plug H which is not in use, nothing happens. The contacts 36 will then be closed, comp'eting the following circuit: 89, 85, 36, 9!, '70, 69, 92, 300, ti l, 8 3. this circuit and moves the gear 3? counterclockwise five teeth corresponding to the five selections to be played for 25. The gear 3'? therefore, moves one tooth for each selection that is to be played and this movement is determined by the value of the coins inserted in the slots and by the arrangement of the plugs in jacks 67, -38 and 59.

If it is desired to change the price, it is only necessary to shift the plugs "it, 15, i2 and 73 into the proper jacks in the price changer. For example. is it is desired to give six selections for 25, the plug it is inserted in the second of the jacks 6?, the other plugs remaining as before. The insertion of a coin in the 25 chute then first energizes the solenoid 59A to move the gear.

one tooth and then energizes the solenoid 90 1 to move the gear five teeth. Similarly, seven selections for 25 may be secured by placing the plug 7 l in one of the 68 jacks. give one selection for 10 and three for 25, the

plug 32 (10c) is inserted in one of the 57 jacks' (one selection), the plug ll (25) is inserted in the second of the 67 jacks (one selection) and the plug it (25) is inserted in one of the 68 jacks (two selections). The l3 plug (5c) will not be used and the 5 coin chute will be rendered inoperable in any well known manner. Thus, many different desired combinations of price may be set up onthe price changer and selections will The solenoid 139 is energized by if it is desired to If now a 5c piece is be delivered accordingly. .Obviously, counting units may be adjusted to give three or four or other numbers of selections for a given coin, as

lamp by this circuit indicates to the operator that he may now make his selections; The operator may then turn the knob of the selector switch to bring the finger 24 into contact with any of the .buttons Hi. When the dial indicates the number of a selection he'wishes played, he presses the knob 22 and makes contact between the points 21 and 28. This contact completes three circ'iits,first: 80, 84, 52, 30, 28, 21, 24, I8, I9, I0, 85, 80. This circuit energizes the appropriate solenoid H] for selectinga record to be played. Second: 80, 84, 52, 30, 28, 21, 3|, 40D, 85, 80. This circuit energizes the solenoid 40D to move the gear 31 one tooth in the clockwise direction. Third: 80 84, 52, 30, 28, 2?, 3!, 62,

85, 80. This circuit energizes the magnet 62 to permit the ratchet wheel, 55 to move one tooth in the counterclockwise direction. It thus frees the pin 63 from the lever 64 if the pin has not already been freed and permits the engagement of the 55-66 contactors to start the phonograph and to energize the amplifier and speaker. It is apparent that none of these three circuits could be completed if the gear 3! had not been moved to permit closing of the 52 contact. For

that reason, operation of the selector switch previous to the deposition of a coin has no efiect.

If the coin deposited called for only one selection, the gear 31 was moved only one tooth in the counterclockwise direction. The operation of the selector switch to energize the solenoid 40D,

therefore, returns the gear to the normal position, openingthe 52 contactors and'preventing further effective operation of the selector switch.

The opening of these contactors also extinguishes the lamp 93 and indicates that no more selections are available. If the coins deposited call for more than one selection; the 52 contacts remain open until the selector switch has been operated ,a sufiicient number of times to return the arm 5| to itsinitial position, at which time the 52 contacts will be opened as before. Thus, as many selections as have been paid for may be made on the selector switch before the circuits are broken. by the return of the arm 5| to normal position.

' Since the operation of the solenoid 40D is relatively rapid, it is possible that the 52 contact might be broken on the last selection before the magnet 62 could be completely energized to operate the play counter. For this reason the contactors 54 are connected in parallel with the contactors 52 and maintain these circuits complete as long as the knob 22 is pressed, even f though the 52 contact may be broken. When the operator releases the knob 22, however. the solenoid 40D is deenergized and the 54 contacts are opened, thus breaking the circuits.

Since the magnet 62 is energized each time the selector switch is operated, the pin 53 is moved away from-the lever 64 a distance corresponding to the number of selections made. After each selection is played, the solenoid 51 is energized counter conditions the appai atus for the selection of an appropriate number of records, and the .operation of the-selector switch then selects the records, operates the selection counter to check 01f the number of records selected and operates the play counter to condition the apparatus for the playing of the number of records selected, and the operation of the phonograph itself then checks ofi the records on the play counter as they are played; In a broader sense, it may be said that the selection counter conditions the apparatus'for the playing of the number of records paid for, since only the number of records set up on the selection counter may be played.

Remote stations For remote control of the instrument, there may be provided one or more remote stations, one of which is shown in the diagram Fig. 1. This station is provided with a selector switch 95, a lamp andcoin chutes 91 of the same construction as the selector switch, lamp and coin chutes on the cabinet. The conductors leading from the cabinet station are connected to the terminals of suitable sockets marked Socket A and Socket B, which may be mounted on the cabinet. Plugs A and B which may be inserted .1.

ferred form of the invention but'it is obvious that many variations may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as de fined by the appended claims. For example, for home use, the coin apparatus and selection counter may be omitted, only the selector switches on the cabinet and at the remote stations and the play counter being used. The 52 contacts are then bridged or permanently closed and the operator may pre-elect as many records as desired. The number of records selected are checked in on the play counter and checked off as played, the phonograph being stopped when all selected records have been played. A wiring diagram for such operation is shown in Fig. 6 in'which parts numbered in the series have the same construction and function as corresponding parts numbered in the unit series in Fig. 1-.

the selector switch instead of carrying its circuits throughthe 52 contacts as before. Remote stations may be used in this arrangement as Well as in that of Fig. 1.

For use with the non-selective type of phono-.

graph, the selector switch and play counter are omitted, the 52 contact being used to start the phonograph instead of the 65-46 contact and aoeai'so to check off the played records. The wiring for this purpose'is shown in Fig. 7 in which parts numbered in the 200 series have the same construction and function as corresponding parts numbered in the unit series of Fig. 1. In this arrangement, the selector switch and play counter with their connections are omitted, conductors 28! and 282 are connected to the 252 contacts instead of the 55---% contacts and the MD solenoid is operated by the 2M contacts by means of the following circuit 28fi2852M-25324DD 285-480.

The invention claimed is:

1. Control apparatus for an automatic phonograph having electrically operated means ior preselecting a plurality of records to be played, said control apparatus including coin receiving means having electric contact elements actuated by the receipt of a coin or coins, electrical elements connected to and controlled by said contact elements,

, a movable membermovedby said electrical olemerits a predetermined distance from a normal position each time a coin of a certain value is received by said coin receiving means, a manually operable selector switch, electric connections between said switch and the phonograph pre-sele'cting means by which the latter is actuated to select a record each time said switch is operated, means controlled by said movable member to render said switch ineffective when said member is in said normal position, an electrical element connected to and controlled by said selector switch and operating to move said member a predetermined distance towardsaid normal position each time said selector switch is operated to select a record, electrical means actuated by said phonograph each time a record is played, and an electrical counting device connected to and controlled by said last mentioned electrical means and by said selector switch and operating to stop the phonograph when as many records have been played as have been selected by operation of said switch.

2. Control apparatus for an automatic phonograph having means for preselecting records to be played, said control apparatus including coin receiving means adapted to receive coins of different denominations and having a plurality of electrical contact elements each of which is actuated by the receipt of a coin of a particular dea record each time said switch is operated, means controlled by said movable member to render said switch inefiective when said member is in said normal position, an electrical element connected to and controlled by said selector switch and operating to move said member a predetermined distance toward said normal position each time said selector switch is operated to select a record, electrical means actuated by said phonograph each time a record is played, and an electrical counting device connected to and controlled by said last mentioned electrical means and by said selector switch and operating to stop the phonograph when as many records have been played as graph including coin receiving means having a plurality of electrical contact elements successively actuated by receipt of a coin, counting apparatus controlling the playing of the phonograph and including a plurality of electrically operated counting units each adapted when actuated to condition said apparatus for the, playing of a different predetermined number of records, and electrical connections between each of said contact elements and a corresponding counting unit by means of which each unit is actuated by the actuation of one of said contact elements, said connections including selective means by which said contact elements may be connected to any of said counting units to alter the number of records played in return for said coin.

4. Control apparatus for an automatic phonograph having means for selecting records to be played, said control apparatus including coin receiving means, a selection counter operated by said coin receiving means and adapted to condition said apparatus for the selection of a predetermined number of records upon receipt of a coin, a play counter, a selector device adapted to operate said record selecting means, to operate said selection counter to check oil the records as selected and to operate said play counter to condition the apparatus for the playing of the number of records selected, and a phonograph operated device operating said play counter to check off the records as played, said play counter serving to stop the operation of the phonograph when the selected records have been played and checked ofi.

5. Control apparatus for an automatic phonograph having means for selecting records to be played, said control apparatus including coin receiving means, a selection counter operated by said coin receiving means and adapted. to condition said apparatus for the selection of a predetermined number of records upon receipt of a coin, a play counter, a selector device adapted to operate said record selecting means, to operate said selection counter to check oif the records as selected and to operate said play counter to condition the apparatus for the playing of the number of records selected, means controlled by said selection counter to render said selector device inefiective when said predetermined number of records have been checked ofi, and a phonograph operated device operating said play counter to check off the records as played, said play counter serving to stop the operation of the phonograph when the selected records have been played and checked ofi.

6. Control apparatus for an automatic phonograph having means for selecting records to be played, said control apparatus including coin receiving means adapted to receive coins of difierent denominations, a selection counter operated by said coin receiving means and adapted to condition the apparatus for the selection of a predetermined number of records depending upon the value of the coin or coins received, a play counter, a selector device adapted to operate said record selecting means, to operate said selection counter to check off the records as selected and to operate said play counter to condition the apparatus for the playing of the number of records selected, said selector device being ineffective when said predetermined number of records have been checked ofi, and a phonograph operated device operating said play counter to check oil the records as played, said play counter serving to stop the operation of the phonograph when the selected records have been played and checked off. v

7. Control apparatus for an automatic phonograph having a plurality of electrical selector units each operating when actuated to pre-select a particular record for playing, said control apparatus including coin receiving means, a selection counter-operated by said coin receiving means and serving to evaluate the coins received in terms of selections to be played, said counter including an electrically operated check ofi-de- Vice, :3, play counter including electrically operated means for conditioning the apparatus for playing arecord, electric circuits for actuating each of said selector units, electric circuits for actuating said check off device and said play counter conditioning means, means for simultaneously completing one of said first mentioned circuits and both of said last mentioned circuits, and means for opening all of said circuits when as many selections as paid for have been made and checked off by said check ofi device.

8. Control apparatus for an automatic phonograph including a pair of coin receiving units each adapted to receive a coin of adifierent denomination, an electrical contact element associated with the smaller denominational unit and actuated by the receipt of a coin therein, a pair of electrical contact elements associated with the larger denominational unit and adapted to be successively actuated by the receipt of a coin therein, counting apparatus controlling the play- 7 ing of the phonograph and including a pair of electrically operated counting units, each adaptthe playing of a difierent predetermined number of records, electrical connections between the first mentioned contact'element and the counting unit corresponding to the smaller number of records by means of which said counting unit'is actuated by actuation of said contact elements, similar electrical connections between one of said -second mentioned contact elements and the counting unit for the larger number of records, and similar electrical connections between the other of said second mentioned contact elements and the counting unit for the lower number or records.

9. Control apparatus for'an automatic phonograph including a pair of coin receiving units each adapted to receive a coin of a different denomination, an electrical contact element associated with the smaller denominational unit and actuated by the receipt of a coin'therein, a pair for the playing of a different predetermined number of records, electrical connections between the first mentioned contact element and one of said counting units by means of which said counting unit is actuated by actuation of said contact element, a similar electrical connection between one of said second mentioned contact elements and one of said counting units, and a similar electrical connection between the other of said second mentioned contact elements and the other of said counting units. 1

RALPH R. ERBE. 

